Department for Transport

Railways: Infrastructure

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what rail infrastructure funding his Department is providing to each region in each of the next three years.

Paul Maynard: The Department for Transport provides funding for rail infrastructure in England and Wales, which makes up part of the total funding requirement for Network Rail to deliver its Control Period 5 commitments between 2014 and 2019. Government funding is not divided by region.

Roads: Accidents

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to mark National Road Victim Month which falls in August of each year.

Andrew Jones: The Department supports the purpose of National Road Victim Month. We recognise every death is a tragedy and we regularly attend the Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. We are determined to do more to make our roads safer. That’s why this Government has a Manifesto commitment to reduce road deaths and injuries every year. We are prioritising our efforts on delivering the actions set out in the British Road Safety Statement which we published on 21 December 2015 which is available on gov.uk and copies are in both libraries of the house.

Department for Communities and Local Government

West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Finance

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much central government funding has been provided to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in each year since the combined authority was established.

Andrew Percy: The funding shown below has been provided directly by the government to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since it was established on 1 st April 2014.Combined Authority Financial yearOverall total (£m)West Yorkshire Combined Authority2014/1572.32015/16120.02016/17182.6

Combined Authorities: Audit

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to combined authorities on ensuring that they establish adequate audit and governance arrangements.

Andrew Percy: Both the primary legislation, and secondary legislation applicable to each combined authority which establish combined authorities, provide for their governance arrangements including requiring each combined authority to establish one or more overview and scrutiny committee and an audit committee. We also intend this autumn, subject to Parliamentary approval, to make an order making provision about how overview and scrutiny committees and audit committee must be operated; in addition we are able to issue statutory guidance on these matters and we will consider whether any such guidance is needed.

Empty Property

Mr Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of indefinitely vacant properties.

Gavin Barwell: Our strong record on the economy has created a strong buoyant housing market where owners of empty properties are bringing these homes back into use without government intervention. As a result the number of empty properties are at their lowest since records began.   Local authorities have powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. Through the New Homes Bonus they earn the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one. Councils may also charge up to 150% council tax for homes empty over two years. We have extended permitted development rights to make it easier to convert property from business to residential to give life to thousands of empty buildings.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Competition: EU Countries

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on future collaboration with the European Commission on competition enforcement and cooperation between the Competition and Markets Authority and the EU.

Margot James: The Competition and Markets Authority works in cooperation with other competition authorities internationally on enforcement cases and other issues of mutual interest. It will continue to seek to work with other competition authorities in the future, where appropriate.

Competition: EU Internal Trade

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to take account of market operations across the current single market when enforcing competition and anti-trust policy after Britain exits the EU.

Margot James: The Competition and Markets Authority has primary responsibility for enforcing competition law in the UK. Its primary duty is to seek to promote competition, both within and outside the UK, for the benefits of consumers.At every step of the negotiations to withdraw from the European Union we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

Consumers: Protection

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on future collaboration with the EU on consumer protections in relation to e-commerce; and if he will make it his policy to ensure British consumers who access e-commerce firms located in the EU single market continue to be offered the protections currently provided by Directive on Consumer Rights (2011/83/EC).

Margot James: We are about to begin our negotiations to withdraw from the European Union and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

Directors: Equality

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department has allocated to support Sir John Parker in his report on diversity on corporate boards.

Margot James: The secretariat to Sir John’s review is provided by private sector sponsors and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been very supportive of the review and providing support at ministerial and official level.

Directors: Females

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support the Government gave to Lord Davies during his work to produce his report on women on boards.

Margot James: Lord Davies chaired the independent and business-led Women on Boards review from 2010 to 2015 to increase the representation of women on FTSE 100 boards to 25% by 2015.The former department (BIS) provided a small secretariat to support his work. A number of sponsors and stakeholders also contributed to the successful publishing of his reports.

Directors: Equality

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for completion of Sir John Parker's report on diversity on corporate boards.

Margot James: Sir John Parker is conducting an independent review. We expect he will report his findings by the end of the year.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Living Wage

Frank Field: To ask the Attorney General, how many people working for the Law Officers' Departments or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General’s Office, the Government Legal Department, HMCPSI and the Crown Prosecution Service have no direct employees or agency workers that are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage foundation. The Serious Fraud Office directly employs six staff who earn less than this. The six are all either apprentices or sandwich students on placement, and are all under 20 years of age and paid at a rate equivalent to £9.04 an hour. None of the Law Officers’ Departments have any direct employees or agency workers who are on zero-hours contracts. No information is held in regards to pay rates or contracts with individuals employed by agencies or firms for subcontracted services.

Department for Education

Academies: Standards

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academies each regional schools commissioner has issued with formal intervention measures in the last 12 months.

Edward Timpson: In the last 12 months Regional Schools Commissioners (RSC) took formal intervention measures in 116 academies and free schools; 66 academies and free schools were moved to a different trust or sponsor and 50 academies were issued with a formal notice.The table below shows the number of interventions in each RSC region in the last 12 months.RSC regionNumber of warning notices issued in the last 12 monthsNumber of academies moved to different trust or sponsorEast Midlands & Humber1318Lancashire & West Yorkshire25North23North East London & East83North West London & South Central142South London & South East74South West221West Midlands210Total5066

Schools: Sports

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria her Department to use to distribute funding accrued from the soft drinks industry levy to schools in order to extend their school day for physical activities.

Edward Timpson: The Department is currently determining the details of how funding will be allocated, with a view to beginning to distribute funding to schools in 2017. We will provide further details in due course so that schools have sufficient time to apply for the funding and to consider how they will deliver the new provision, including through appropriate consultation with parents.

Erasmus+ Programme

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the future of the Erasmus programme.

Joseph Johnson: The EU referendum result has no immediate effect on students abroad under Erasmus or those applying in 2016/17. Payments will be made in the usual way. Access after we leave the EU is a matter for the forthcoming negotiations.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Education

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve education in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Education is key to helping prisoners turn their lives around and in particular to securing employment which we know reduces reoffending. We realise that many prisoners have led challenging lives and may have missed out on the opportunity to learn. For example nearly one third struggle with learning difficulties or disabilities and only a quarter enter employment on release. Dame Sally Coates was asked to lead an independent review of education in prisons. This was published on 18th May 2016 and we have accepted in principle all the recommendations made.

Prisons: Education

Craig Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve education in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Education is key to helping prisoners turn their lives around and in particular to securing employment which we know reduces reoffending. We realise that many prisoners have led challenging lives and may have missed out on the opportunity to learn. For example nearly one third struggle with learning difficulties or disabilities and only a quarter enter employment on release. Dame Sally Coates was asked to lead an independent review of education in prisons. This was published on 18th May 2016 and we have accepted in principle all the recommendations made.

Environment Protection: Civil Proceedings

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what changes she plans to make to cost protection rules for environmental legal challenges.

Sir Oliver Heald: The Government consulted on changes to the environmental costs rules last year. We are carefully considering the responses we received and will publish a consultation response setting out how the government intends to proceed in due course.

Administration of Justice: Females

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to address the needs of women in the justice system.

Dr Phillip Lee: Crime is falling and fewer women are entering the justice system – with the female prison population now consistently under 4,000. We want to see even fewer women offending and reoffending. We are working with local areas to address female offenders’ needs throughout their offender journey, and have awarded £200k in funding to pilot this work.

Human Rights

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is on human rights legislation.

Sir Oliver Heald: Britain has a long history of protecting human rights at home and standing up for those values abroad. This Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. We will set out our proposals for a Bill of Rights in due course. We will consult fully on our proposals.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Jeremy Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of its policies on supporting prisoners with mental health issues; and if she will make a statement.

Dr Phillip Lee: We know that people with mental health problems are disproportionately represented in the Criminal Justice System, and these conditions require treatment. We are working with health partners, as part of prison reform, to improve the data and evidence we collect to assist with evaluating health interventions. We are committed to meeting the mental health needs of prisoners. All prisons have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people with mental health issues.

Prisons: Education

Will Quince: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve education in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Education is key to helping prisoners turn their lives around and in particular to securing employment which we know reduces reoffending. We realise that many prisoners have led challenging lives and may have missed out on the opportunity to learn. For example nearly one third struggle with learning difficulties or disabilities and only a quarter enter employment on release. Dame Sally Coates was asked to lead an independent review of education in prisons. This was published on 18th May 2016 and we have accepted in principle all the recommendations made.

Offenders: Employment

Matt Warman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that offenders find employment on release.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Supporting offenders into meaningful employment is a vital aspect of our approach towards ensuring that those who have committed a crime provide an effective contribution towards society and break the cycle of re-offending. Most offenders arrive in prison with very low levels of educational attainment, very high levels of substance misuse and often no or very poor histories of employment. Working with our Community Rehabilitation Companies, we seek to tackle each of those issues via a variety of interventions to equip people with the basic foundations to allow them to secure and hold down a job on release.

Human Rights

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the protection of the human rights of UK citizens.

Sir Oliver Heald: The UK has led the world in human rights, from Magna Carta to Habeas Corpus. The Government is committed to bringing forward a British Bill of Rights to further build on these ancient protections. We are working to maximise the benefits of Brexit, promoting the UK’s fantastic legal services sector which has a 10% share of the global legal services fees revenue.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

British Telecom: Broadband

Mr Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with BT on the pace of its commercial roll-out.

Matt Hancock: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media & sport recently met the Chief Executive of BT to discuss a range of issues, including BT’s progress in improving broadband connectivity through its commercial investments. This issue will be one of the priorities in the Department’s regular discussions with BT.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Living Wage

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people working for her Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Matt Hancock: All employees are by law required to be paid the National Living Wage. No directly employed or agency staff are employed on zero hour contacts.

Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that British residents continue to be able to be subject to caps on mobile telephone roaming charges when abroad after the UK leaves the EU; and what discussions she has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) the British telecommunications industry about achieving that aim.

Matt Hancock: Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force.

Film: Directors

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of films backed by UK-based public funding bodies have been directed by women in each of the last 10 years.

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cash value of support from the public purse for films directed by women was in each of the last 10 years.

Matt Hancock: The information requested in not held centrally.

Gaming Machines

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will assess the potential merits of reducing the maximum stake people are allowed to bet on fixed odds betting terminals.

Tracey Crouch: As previously stated in the House of Commons, the Government is considering the situation and I hope to announce details of a review in due course. This will be the appropriate mechanism to look again at the issue of stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

Historic Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what per head funding is allocated to restoring historic cultural buildings in each region and constituent part of the UK.

Matt Hancock: This data is not held centrally.

Sports

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how her Department plans to measure progress of the implementation of its sports strategy.

Tracey Crouch: Progress will be measured against the five outcomes set out in Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation. Information will be collected about the key performance indicators the strategy sets out, drawing on data from a range of sources. We will submit an annual report to parliament on the progress.

Video Recordings: Age

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what advice she has received from the (a) Video Standards Council and (b) Games Rating Authority on proposed amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has undertaken research into the child welfare implications of possible amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives of local authorities on possible amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives of video and computer games creators on possible amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives of charities and voluntary groups concerned with child welfare on possible amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

Matt Hancock: Following public consultations involving representations from classification bodies, child welfare groups, local authorities, content producers and many others, since 2010 we have legislated twice to strengthen the protections provided by the Act. This has ensured that retailers now cannot sell or rent any age-inappropriate DVDs or video games discs or cartridges to children. It also ensures these products are all labelled with relevant British Board of Film Classification (DVDs) and PEGI (video games) age ratings and content advice. This means adults have better information to help them make responsible decisions about the material children can access. We will continue to work with industry and the age ratings bodies to encourage further promotion of the BBFC and PEGI age ratings to consumers including through initiatives such as BBFCInsight and AskAboutGames.

European Capital of Culture

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the eligibility of UK cities applying for the title of 2023 European Capital of Culture.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to support local authorities which are preparing bids for the title of European Capital of Culture 2023.

Matt Hancock: Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Living Wage

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people working for his Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Caroline Nokes: Holding answer received on 05 September 2016



The Government introduced the National Living Wage on 1 April 2016. This will put over £900 more a year in the pockets of full-time workers compared to the current National Minimum Wage. The Department ensures that all direct employees are paid at least the mandatory National Living Wage set by the Government, regardless of age. Similarly all agency staff and those on outsourced contracts are paid at least this rate. The Department reviews pay annually, setting pay at rates that will attract and motivate appropriate numbers and sufficient talent to fulfil its duties to some 22 million customers. None of our employees nor those working for our contractors are on zero hours contracts.

Social Security Benefits: Multiple Births

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral answer of 10 January 2011, Official Report, column 11, what changes have been made to the welfare system since 2011 to support households after multiple birth.

Damian Hinds: The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a payment of £500 to provide important help for families with the costs of a new baby (or babies in the event of a multiple birth) if there are no other children under 16 in the claimant’s family. The grant is available to recipients, and partners of recipients, of a qualifying benefit or tax credit. From 2012, access to the Sure Start Maternity Grant has been extended and is also available for the additional children of subsequent multiple births. This acknowledges the help that is needed with the costs for all but one of the additional children of a subsequent multiple birth. Also, from 2012, Social Fund Budgeting Loans have been available to cover other maternity expenses.

Pension Protection Fund

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to implement the long service compensation cap for the Pension Protection Fund.

Richard Harrington: I am committed to implementing the Pension Protection Fund long service cap and hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

Pension Protection Fund

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish the secondary legislation required to implement the increase in the Pension Protection Fund compensation cap provided for under the Pensions Act 2014.

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it remains his policy to use the powers provided under the Pensions Act 2014 to increase the cap on compensation from the Pension Protection Fund for scheme members with long service.

Richard Harrington: I am committed to implementing the Pension Protection Fund long service cap and hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Coeliac Disease

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make representations to gluten-free food producers on reducing the cost to consumers of gluten-free products; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: It is not the Government's role to set retail food prices. We work to promote transparency and open global markets internationally, as well as a competitive domestic market to help producers and retailers offer the best prices to consumers. Year on year food prices have continued to fall with an annual rate of inflation of -2.6 per cent in the year to July 2016, according to official figures released on 18 August.

Marine Environment

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on compliance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework after the UK has left the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK’s vision is for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse seas and oceans. Until we leave the EU, EU law continues to apply, so we continue to comply with the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. We are now preparing to negotiate our exit. Defra will be working with the Department for Exiting the EU on the UK’s withdrawal and future relationship, liaising closely with other key departments. The Government will work with industry and the public to develop these new arrangements. The Government is committed to improving our environment and achieving the UK vision for our seas and oceans.

Fishing Grounds

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to seek to prohibit (a) non-UK-registered and (b) non-UK-owned fishing vessels from fishing within (i) UK territorial waters and (ii) the UK fisheries limits after the UK's exit from the EU.

George Eustice: Exit from the EU presents us with an opportunity under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to improve the way in which waters within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone are managed. Defra officials will be working with the new Department for Exiting the European Union, Devolved Administrations and stakeholders to develop proposals that will allow the UK to best take advantage of this opportunity.

Fish: Conservation

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on future collaboration with the EU on fish stock management; and what discussions she has had to date with the European Commission on that matter.

George Eustice: Exit from the EU presents us with an opportunity under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to improve the way in which waters within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone are managed. Defra officials will be working with the new Department for Exiting the European Union, Devolved Administrations and stakeholders to develop proposals that will allow the UK to best take advantage of this opportunity. No formal discussions have taken place with the European Commission at this stage.

Air Pollution

Paul Scully: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to wait until the EU Commission has confirmed acceptance of the UK Air Quality Plan before making a decision on airport expansion.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government submitted a revised air quality plan to the European Commission on 17 December last year. There is no formal timetable under the Air Quality Directive for the Commission to assess the plan. We are working with the Commission to ensure compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limits in the Directive in the shortest possible time. The Government is fully committed to delivering the infrastructure this country needs, including delivering runway capacity to the timetable set out by the Airports Commission.

Home Office

Home Office: Living Wage

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people working for her Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Sarah Newton: All permanent members of staff directly employed by the Home Office and its agencies are paid the Living Wage Foundation rates or above. The Home Office and its agencies do not retain any directly employed staff on zero-hour contracts.All temporary agency staff are employed in accordance with the Agency Workers Regulations which ensures parity with directly employed staff after 12 weeks. Starting pay rates comply with the requirements of the current Government Living Wage legislation; this is a contractual obligation on the supplier and is monitored through contract compliance mechanisms.The Home Office only requires its outsourced contractors to comply with the legal minimum standards of pay of their staff as set out in the Government National Living Wage legislation; again this is a contractual obligation on the supplier and is monitored through contract compliance mechanisms and annually through out supplier assurance programme.The Home Office does not however require outsourced contractors to pay the Living Wage Foundation rates or requires or monitors that such outsourced contractors do not employ staff on zero hours contracts.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Living Wage

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many people working for his Department on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not directly employ any staff. The Office is staffed by civil servants on assignment, loan and/or secondment basis predominantly from the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government. No people working for the Scotland Office who are (a) directly employed in the civil service are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, nor are on a zero hours contract. No people working for the Scotland Office on an (b) agency basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, nor are on a zero hours contract. Information on workers on an (c) outsourced basis, paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation and their contractual hours can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Procurement

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 25 July 2016 to Questions 43380 and 43381, for what reasons his Department does not hold information on the number of public sector contracts won by small businesses or on the number of companies bidding; and if he will take steps to collate that information.

Ben Gummer: The Government has a target of awarding one third of direct and indirect central government spend to SMEs by the end of this Parliament. Consequently, we track the value of spend with SMEs through information supplied by departments, but not the number of contracts or the number of bids they have made.We have no plans to collect information on the number of public sector contracts won by small businesses or on the number of companies bidding, as the cost of collecting such information would be disproportionate.

Public Sector: Procurement

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 25 July 2016 to Questions 43380 and 43381, what proportion of that £12 billion was spent on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) winning contracts directly from government and (b) large companies winning contracts directly from government and then outsourcing parts of those contracts to SMEs.

Ben Gummer: In 2014-15, Central Government spent over £12 billion with small and medium sized businesses, of which £4.88 billion was direct spend and £7.27 billion through our supply chains.A full breakdown of the data can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/central-government-spend-with-smes-2014-to-2015

Anti-corruption Summit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to review progress towards commitments made at the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit in London; and what the timetable is for further periodic reviews of that progress.

Ben Gummer: The Government remains committed to tackling corruption in all its forms. The new administration is currently considering the approach and the governance structures that will oversee this work. Such details will be confirmed in due course. In the meantime, departments are working to progress the anti-corruption agenda, including work that was set out at the London Anti-Corruption Summit on May 12.